‘Too early to speak of pole vaulter Isinbayeva’s return date’

Moscow, Feb 17 (IANS) It is too early to say when Russia’s pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva would return from her injury which spoiled the famous athlete’s comeback in early February, her coach Yevgeny Trofimov has said.

Following more than a two-year break in her career, Isinbayeva was set to take part in the Russian Grand Prix, hosted by her home city of Volgograd, on February 6. However, she had to drop out of the competition after injuring an Achilles tendon during warm-ups, reports Tass.

Isinbayeva is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, a three-time World Champion, and the current world record holder in the event.

“I have discussed this issue with her yesterday,” Trofimov said on Tuesday.

“She undergoes all the necessary medical procedures and it should be obvious that the full recovery takes a period of at least three or four weeks.”

“The amount of time she would spend in Munich from this period [of recovery] depends on doctors and the progress in her treatment,” Trofimov added.

“Therefore, we are unable to announce the exact date. It is not just an ordinary cold.”

Last week the All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF) announced on its website citing Isinbayeva as saying that the surgery for her injury was not required and the recovery period would take approximately a month.

“Today I learnt the final diagnosis,” the ARAF cited Isinbayeva as saying on February 10.

“The surgery is not necessary in case of my sustained injury and a more conservative method of treatment could be used. The recovery period would require up to four-week time.”